Preparing Your Player for Football
- For those of you who are veteran football parents this is nothing new. For those of you who are rookies, we'd like to make the following suggestions:
- Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and goes to bed at a reasonable hour, football is a demanding sport and we will work the kids hard. No sleepovers the day before a game!!!
- Have them drink plenty of fluids (primarily water, maybe some Gatorade every once in a while, stay away from pop or other sugary drinks) for several hours prior to practice/game so that they are completely hydrated before the practice/game begins, especially when the weather turns hot in July and August;
- Try to incorporate more healthy fruits, vegetables, whole grains into their diets and less junk food/fast food;
- Have the players stretch and run outside of practice. This will improve their stamina and help ease the aches and pains associated with a contact sport.
http://sites.google.com/site/kirtlandyouthfootballleague/player-preparation
Heat Awareness
For parents and family members attending games, it’s important to be aware of places they can replenish fluids lost while in the heat. Watching from a shady spot can help but it isn’t prevention, and young children running around while their older siblings play can lead to dehydration, too.
Always remember: Just because you aren’t active, doesn’t mean that you are not losing fluids too; Stay Hydrated.
Nutrition for Athletes
Paula Schmitt, author of Living In A Locker Room: A Mom's Tale Of Survival In A Houseful Of Boys (2005), has written this great article on eating tips for before, during, and after athletic events.
http://www.justmommies.com/articles/sports-nutrition-tips.shtml
Check out some more Nutritional Tips under our Downloadable Docs page!
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More Information
For more great tips on how to keep your player fit, safe, and always ready to play, check out http://www.usafootball.com/health-safety/home